Sealing strip



T. R. ANGUS SEALING STRIP June l, 1954 Filed March 26, 1949 INVENTOR.

Patented June l, 1954 Aram r.

T8 Claims. il

This invention relates asindioated tov-:ai'novel sealing` stripY and;,morei` particularly, :to :a form of sealing strip fespeciallyradaptedto the r sealing of automobileenginefhoodszand like closures.

Various types of resilient :sealing strips, weather strips, bumperstrips, ;-,andrelated.. articles are well fknown in vthe-art,f,many;;being especiallyadapted for :use` aboutrautomobilefdooropenings, 'rearf trunk and--engine-fhood closures. Such articles `willhereafter rbe inclusively referred toas sealingnstrips-althoughvit willbe appreciated that .the .sa-me may "and :generally will serveotherrelated'. purposes.

l Such sealing strips. may y be divided i into 'two classes,thosexformed'.offresilient rubber or like resilient material andintended to fbe Ydirectly adhered or ,clamped to the frameor closuremember and those including metal attaching members or devices, incombination therewith. The present invention is :concerned ,withfsuchlatter type.

As shown Vand described) U. SafPatentfApplication Serial No..-647,742wof fB-urton Cable, James W. Davidson..and-RalphE.gHarrah,.Extrusion Die and vMethod of Extruding, filed December 11, 1948,-now-abandoned, -it is .possible toprovide resilientfsealingstrip andthelike having embedded .thereinI acontinuoustmetal strip for the. purposel`of lattachingthe resilient sealing strip wheredesired. Such-metal:strip may be moldedin anzelongated reslientfrubber element orpreferably ,therubber portionvof -,the assemblyA will be continuouslyIextruded onto/the metal supporting and attaching lstrip in themannertaught in the aforesaidappl-ication.

The resilientrubberl strip mayatake a varietyzof cross-sectional ,shapesincluding, resilient flanges or ribs, and maybe tubularinerossffsection. When the resilient strfpis subjected tolateralpressure inuseythe 4prior art metal reinforcing and attachingmembers-'have provento begenerally satisfactory'in-'use -but, whenithestrip .l is to be mounted for engagement ina direction directly opposedto an edge foffthe'fembedded metal member,Y vvariousdifficultiesarise.In such position the metal `member i-fails .t Halford 4.any additionalresilientuoricushioningsietliect fior'I the rubber strip andtendsfinsteadztorsubject the latter -to 'excessive shearing stresses. ThisSis particularly true :if vthe :rubber r,element iis .mot bondedas byvulcanizationzorxementing to'.` such metal member.

It is therefore a principalfrobjectnfthis?invention `to provide ancimpnoved `sealing :strip including both a resilientelementizof-afmaterial (ClM-f-69) such rfas rubber rand ian embeddedrreintorcing and attaching memberi-:whichV willf'ordinarily be of;metal, such reinforcing` member ,beings shaped anddisposedfftofresilientlysupport the resilient rubber member inwuse.

f-Still-y another object vof'.myrim/ention.is to providealsea-l-ingstrip fofthe'type indicated which thefreinforcing*member-:is--designed- -to' facilitate bending' of the strip;inaanyffoffiseveral :directions i-n-- orderj properly,-totinounttheesame.

1 Other objects. off my-inventionvwillfappeaiv as the descriptionproceeds.

ATo the accomplishment of the foregoing :and related r--endspfsaidmvention then comprises the features fhereinafter.- tully: describedandt particularlypointed out in the claimswtheffollowing descriptionsand the annexed v.drawing -,setting forth.. xdetaileertain.illustrative embodiments of fthe invention, these being indicative,however.-` of..butar fewy nf the "various Aways in which thez-principlerof the: :inventionv may. .beY employed.

In said' annexed :drawing:

fFig. 1 isaan` elevational 5view. of. my .new improved .sealing istrip.reinforcingmemb er;

1llig. 2.1is.a verticalsectional viewthroughsuch member taken alongtherline 2-2\,on.Fig. .1;

,Eig..3.is,fanelevationaleview ofone form of my; novel.reinforcedisealingfstrip;

l Fig. 4 is.,a.vertica1 .sectionalview through such assembled strip,.takenalong theline-d on Fien-3;

`ELC-5.5 is V.a view.simi1ar.to,Eig. ,4 .but showing another.modification Uwherein the ,resilient cushioning and selingmemberis of:solid resiliently .deformableimateriah rather .than tubular as shown.in.Fig. .4

,F-ig. A6 illustrates .another embodiment similar to `the Fig...4constructionbut -with thelmetal reinforcing element. ,entirelyenclosed vwitlflin the resilient l rubber ,.pQrtiOn;

,Fig 7,..like.wise. illustrates anotherl modication wherein.theprotrudingstemtportion of vthe reinforcing member .isbentatrightlangles;

...Eigi Sis 1.a .perspectivefview of ,asection of. such metal.reinforcing ,member .illustrated in Figs. .7 and 9;

Eig. 9 :is a .perspective view. of :another #form O-.zsealing striphavingttwo-.lparallel Yresilient ribs andaincluding'fareinforcingfelementof the type shown inifEigfzS; and

:E ig. i 10 4is i a :sectional views show-ing fa sealing strip of.thetypeiillustratedinslig-er43asdeformed in 1 use *,Iwhen 'imcxuntedttor seal an automobile enginerhood, @ifor vexample.a-Referringznoymmorevparticularhfz:tofsaidcdraw ing and especiallyFigs. 1 and 2 thereof, the reinforcing element there illustratedcomprises a sheet metal strip I having one edge rebent to form a narowbead 2 adapted to impart a degree of relative rigidity to this portionof the member. The remainder of the strip is deeply slit or cut awaytoform a plurality of upstanding legs 3. The end portions of such legs arealternately oppositely bent to form terminal flanges 4 which may, forexample, be disposed at an angle of about 45 to each other (see Fig. 2).Oblong openings 5 are punched in such terminal iianges for a purposewhich will be explained below.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, there is thereillustrated a form of sealing strip employing the above-describedreinforcing member in combination with a resiliently deformable tubularsealing member adapted to be extruded thereon as taught in such Cable etal. application Serial No. 64,742. Such resilient sealing elementcomprises a tubular portion 6 and a laterally offset rib portion 'Ienclosing a large portion of legs 3 of the metal reinforcing strip I. Asabove indicated, such resiliently deformable sealing portion willordinarily be of rubber or any equivalent material such as neoprene orthe like. The reinforcing member I, while ordinarily of metal such assteel or copper, may in some cases be of synthetic plastic or resin suchas Bakelite. Plastic-impregnated paper strips or strips of cloth fabricare suitable for this purpose.

The rubber or like material may be bonded to the metal reinforcingmember if desired, but I have found that this is generally not necessarywith my construction and in fact often may not be desirable. The legs 3of the reinforcing member are locked to the rubber element both byrubber passing through openings 5 therein and also by the fact that theends 4 of such legs are bent so that withdrawal is impossible. On theother hand, when the rubber is not actually bonded to the metal, acertain degree of slippage is possible between the opposed surfaces ofthe same facilitating the bending of the assembled sealing strip todesired contour in use.

While my new sealing strip may be attached to a door frame or the likein such manner that it will be laterally engaged by the opening closure,it is a primary object of my invention to provide a sealing strip of thetype described which is adapted to receive impacts and to seal along aline generally in a plane with legs 3 of the reinforcing element. Asshown in Fig. e, for example, the inner periphery of the tubular portion(i is not entirely circular but has a flattened side or land 8 adjacentthe reinforcing element. The oppositely directed terminal flanges i ofsuch element resiliently support such land, presenting flat sidestheretoward rather than narrow edges. This is in direct contrast toprior art constructions wherein the reinforcing element has presented arelatively sharp edge in the direction of thrust tending to developshearing forces hastening break-down of the rubber element. Fig.illustrates one manner of mounting the new sealing strip of my inventionutilizing a clamping bracket member 9 adapted to be secured to asupporting frame I0 by means of a screw II and provided with an offsetseat portion I2 to receive and support the rubber stem 'I of the sealingstrip. Such clamping member is also provided with an inturned lip I3engaging lateral groove I4 in such rubber stem to secure the sameagainst withdrawal. It will, of course,

be obvious that many other forms of attaching means may be employed andthe protruding portion of metal strip I may, for example, be spot weldedat intervals to a metal supporting frame. When engaged by a closuremember I5 moving in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 10,tubular portion 6 will be deformed as illustrated. The side walls ofsuch tubular portion are, however, supported against break-down by thereinforcing land 8 and the angularly extending terminal flanges 4 of themetal reinforcing member.

For some purposes a solid rib I8 of generally circular cross-section asshown in Fig. 5 is to be preferred and the offset anges 4 likewiseresiliently support the same against the action of forces of the typeencountered when mounted as shown in Fig. 10.

In the Fig. 6 embodiment, the metal reinforcing strip I is entirelyembedded and enclosed within the rubber stem portion I7, thisarrangement being desirable when no exposed metal is required forattaching to a support and when it is desired to protect the metal fromthe action of corrosive atmospheres, for example.

Fig. 7 illustrates another embodiment generally .similar to that of Fig.4 but in which the leg portions of the metal reinforcing strip are bentat right angles to provide a portion I8 adapted to be embedded in therubber stem portion I9 and a laterally offset portion 20 extendingtherefrom for attachment to a suitable support.

Fig. 9 illustrates yet another form of sealing strip utilizing areinforcing member of the type shown in Fig. 8 and comprising twodivergent rubber flanges or ribs 2I and 22 separated by a narrow flatland 23. The angularly inclined terminal flanges 4 of the metalsupporting element leg members I8 serve both to resiliently support suchrubber ribs in the region of attachment of the latter to the rubber stemor body portion 24 and also to assist in securing thc rubber and metalelements of the assembly together in a manner preventing separation ofthe same even when the composite strip is relatively sharply bent toconform to desired contour.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a novel form ofsealing strip comprising a resiliently deformable molded or extrudedportion and an embedded reinforcing strip ordinarily of metal which isadapted to be mounted on a supporting structure in a variety of ways andto resist both `break-down of the resilient sealing portion andseparation of the sealing and reinforcing elements in use.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for example, it will be seen that successiveinterrupted edge portions of the embedded metal reinforcing strip I areangularly disposed or offset relative to the radially disposed bodyportion thereof to present fiat faces generally toward the centers ofthe rubber sealing members. shearing stresses which would otherwiseoccur in use are thus avoided and the bifurcated portion of the rubbersealing member is resiliently supported (Fig. l0) the sheet metalelement preferably being somewhat resilient in character itself.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. An elongated sealing strip comprising a resiliently deformabletubular rubber sealing member having a generally radially disposedrubber rib portion extending along the exterior of the same, and a sheetmetal reinforcing and attaching element embedded in said rib portion ina plane generally radial of said tubular member, said metal elementhaving interrupted embedded edge portions oppositely angularly disposedrelative to such generally radial body portion of said element andextending generally parallel to the corresponding Wall portions of saidtubular member to brace the same, such edge portions having openingstherethrough with rubber of said sealing member therein but said metalelement being unbonded to such rubber and said tubular rubber sealingmember having a longitudinally extending internal generally flat land inthe region of said reinforcing element.

2. An elongated sealing strip comprising a resiliently deformable memberof generally circular transverse cross-section, and a generally flat andrigid radially disposed reinforcing and attaching element embeddedtherein in a radial plane, said element having embedded edge portionsoppositely angularly disposed to such radially disposed portion tomechanically interlock with said member against withdrawal and topresent nat faces extending adjacent and generally parallel to thecorresponding outer surface of said member adapted resiliently to resistdeformation of said member.

3. An elongated sealing strip including a resiliently deformable rubbermember of generally circular transverse cross-section and having agenerally radially disposed rubber rib portion extending along theexterior of the same, and a sheet metal reinforcing and attachingelement embedded in said rib portion and lying in a plane generallyradial of said member, embedded edge portions of said metal elementbeing oppositely angularly disposed relative to such radially disposedbody portion of said metal element to present iiat faces generallytoward the center of said rubber member, said edge portions being thusembedded in said circular rubber member adjacent said rib portion.

4. An elongated sealing strip including a resiliently deformable rubbertubular sealing member having a generally radially disposed rubber ribportion extending along the exterior of the same, and a sheet metalreinforcing and attaching element embedded in said rib portion and lyingin a plane generally radial of such tubular member, embedded edgeportions of said metal element adjacent such tubular member beingoppositely angularly disposed in the Wall of said tubular memberrelative to such radially disposed body portion of said element.

5. An elongated sealing strip including a resiliently deformable rubbertubular sealing member, and a flat metal reinforcing and attachingelement embedded therein and disposed generally radially thereof,successive interrupted edge portions of said metal reinforcing andattaching element embedded in said rubber tubular member beingoppositely angularly inclined relative to the radially disposed body ofsaid element to present flat supporting faces generally toward thecenter of such tube.

6. An elongated sealing strip including a resiliently deformable rubbersealing member having a bifurcated cross-sectional portion, and a flatmetal reinforcing element embedded therein, successive interrupted edgeportions of said metal reinforcing element embedded in said rubbersealing member being oppositely angularly offset respectively to conformgenerally to the angles of Such bifurcation.

7. In an elongated sealing strip having an elongated resilientlydeformable tubular sealing member, said member having a longitudinallyextending rib portion, and a thin flat reinforcing element embedded insaid rib portion and lying in a plane generally radial of said tubularmember; oppositely angularly inclined successive interrupted inner edgeportions of said reinforcing element embedded in said member and lyingin planes generally included Within the tubular wall of the latter.

8. In an elongated sealing strip of resiliently deformable materialhaving a unitary relatively rigid thin flat reinforcing element embeddedtherein extending longitudinally thereof and with one edge portionprotruding therefrom; successive interrupted inner edge portions of saidreinforcing element embedded in said material being oppositely angularlydisposed and separated by slots continuing into such protruding portionof said element but terminating short of the outer edge thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,102,393 Tea Dec. 14, 1937 2,102,935 Baily Dec. 21, 19372,132,272 Reid Oct. 4, 1938 2,139,780 'Iea Dec. 13, 1938 2,169,503Schlegel Aug. 15, 1939 2,182,983 Goldberg Dec. 12, 1939 2,273,182 DodgeFeb. 17, 1942 2,344,575 Warren Mar. 21, 1944 2,603,528 Higbie July 15,1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 552,198 Great Britain Mar. 26.1943

